‘Carolina’s Maestro’ Instilled
A Love of Music to All
Your obituary for Dr. Lara Hoggard in
the May/June 2007 issue of the Review was
sprinkled with quotations from past members of the Carolina Choir, as one would
expect. I wanted to add, however, that Dr.
Hoggard was also influential for those of us
who weren’t particularly talented musically.
I was standing in the drop/add line in
Woollen Gym as a first-semester freshman,
trying to figure out what to take as an
elective, when an adviser suggested I might
enjoy Dr. Hoggard’s seminar on classical
composers. What I learned about Haydn,
Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert has
allowed me to enjoy their music to this
day. More than any other contribution, Dr.
Hoggard spread a love for music in his
obvious delight in sharing his knowledge
with us.
Randy Mullis ’ 82 (ABED, ’ 95 MSLS)
Carrboro
Wandering Afield
It’s a real delight to read of the success
of Dr. Francis Collins ’ 77 (MD) (March/
April Review) with the Human Genome
Project. He is truly carrying forth the spirit
of Carolina when he applies his genius so
well and struggles to keep medical knowledge from becoming “property” in the
commercial world.
His discoveries may
lead to healthier,
happier lives for
everyone.
CThe Carolina Dream Deferred / A Scientist’s Awakening / The Library, Quiet No More
AROLINA
March/April2007 ALUMNIIREVIIEW
When he steps
beyond the medical
field, however, he
becomes mixed in a
porridge of philosophy, theology and wishful thinking. If he,
and not the article’s author, says that there
has to be a God (not my capitalization), he
offers not a whiff of proof. I wonder how
many want to know of his personal musings. (I don’t care how many are moved to
believe them.) It’s a little precious that he
has written a book of them totally devoid
of proof, but that’s his right. It’s especially
egregious and insulting, though, that “he
aims [his beliefs] at atheists and fundamentalist Christians,” thereby linking me and
many, many others with a manipulative,
usually money-grubbing crowd of Bible-thumpers who want to run the lives of
others. I see moral law as a way that people
can live more or less peaceably, and not the
silly-sounding “signpost to God.”
Whitmel M. Joyner ’ 64
New Hill
Disaster Management
Program ‘Sorely Needed’
Excellent timing on a sorely needed
program (“UNC to Offer Graduate Program in Disaster Management”). I hope
the University will encourage retired seniors who still want to contribute to enroll.
We need the knowledge and skill more
than the degree, but we could provide a
valuable “surge” capability. We have the
numbers. We are growing and we’re everywhere.
Charles M. Ferguson ’ 63
Alexandria,Va.
This letter was responding to an online article in “Out of the Blue.” The article also is
available online at alumni.unc.edu in the
headlines for April 2007.
